Schenectady, NY- Forty-nine-year-old Maxine Gilbert knows a good thing when she sees it. But, the Central Islip retiree saw more than she expected when she scratched her Cool Millions instant ticket from the New York Lottery and revealed a $1,000,000 winner.

“I thought this can’t be real,” said the former Registered Nurse. “I had this dream last night that I bought a lottery ticket and today, I’m a millionaire!”

Gilbert purchased her Cool Millions instant ticket on March 18, 2008 at the Shell Station on Islip Avenue in Central Islip.

“I usually buy Take 5 tickets because I’ve been lucky with them in the past,” she said. “But, I decided to try an instant ticket this time.”

The mother of four said she hid her ticket in her pocketbook until she claimed it on March 19, 2008 at the Lottery’s Customer Service Center in Manhattan.

Gilbert said she planned to use her winnings to buy a home and write a book.

“I am told I am a very fun person,” she said. “I plan to continue having fun; maybe use the money to bring fun to others.”

Gilbert will receive her prize in payments of $50,000 a year, less required tax withholdings, for the next 20 years. Her net check will total $34,075.

The New York Lottery contributed nearly $2.6 billion to help support education in New York State on incoming revenues of $7.549 billion in fiscal year 2007-2008--a profit margin of 34.3%. The New York Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most profitable Lottery, earning over $34.2 billion in education support statewide since its founding over 40 years ago.